Three.

On one hand, it feels like he’s been with us and I’ve been his mom forever

On the other, I swear I was just telling you I was pregnant yesterday.

Three feels like a real, actual person age. Like, he has been his own little person for three years.

I am not sure how to articulate my feelings about it all, this being a mom thing. This having a three-year-old thing. This being a mom to three-year-old Gabe thing.

. . .

He slept in our bed last night because he and I both have colds, which makes sleeping harder. He woke up right before we went to bed, crying. I pulled him out of his crib and into our room. He was miserable. I gave him some medicine in case his throat hurt like mine did. I turned out the light and he wanted to curl up against me.

“Hold me, Mama.”

And so I did. All night long.

Three is still that.

Three is also dancing and singing along to One Direction.

Three is opinions and imagination.

Three is pretty magical.

. . .

Yesterday, Gabe went to a preschool screening (to see if he was developmentally and socially able to be a “peer model” in a special needs public preschool classroom – not sure if he’s going to go or not, long decision-fraught story). One of the questions was, “What do you enjoy about your child?”

How can I cram all that onto one line?

So, I decided to make a list here.

He’s so affectionate.

He still needs cuddles.

He is full of joy.

He’s an awesome traveler.

He loves us dearly.

He’s hilarious.

He love trains, cooking, eating, and playing in the garden.

He is an awesome listener (most of the time).

He makes parenting way too easy (except when he was a terrible sleeper).

He’s a total mama’s boy.

He’s polite and easy and adaptable.

He makes my life a million times better.

He expresses emotions without holding anything back. If he’s sad, he’ll sob. If he’s happy, he’ll clap his hands and dance. He’s just so full of life.

. . .

We had an action-packed birthday weekend:

Friday: We ate grilled cheeses at Lockview and went to a Led Zeppelin cover band at an outdoor venue.

Saturday: Mike’s birthday! We started the day by going to the street festival in our neighborhood. We listened to some music, went to a planetarium in the local theater, and ate tofu skewers. My sister arrived from Chicago. We had a cookout at my parents and spent the night.

Sunday: Gabe’s birthday! We went to church, then to a food truck festival (where we were interviewed by a local radio station). Surprised Gabe with this awesome little kitchen:

Then went to a Cleveland Orchestra Pixar concert (so cool), where it proceeded to pour down rain on the outdoor event. Gabe and I found shelter in the pavilion and he was in love with the show. The day ended with fireworks and an incredibly late bedtime.

Monday: We went for a family hike with 14 other people, then had a wonderful cookout at my grandmas. Then we all went to bed super early. Amen.

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About Ashley

I'm the mom of two boys, wife of one professor, and Ohio to Western Massachusetts transplant.

I'm passionate about living in ways that feel good to us - for my family, that means a slower, more intentional life with an emphasis on family time and simplicity and a deemphasis on the accumulation of stuff. We love to travel, eat, and are happiest when we are doing both.

I spend most of my time, when not caring for small children, designing websites for small business and individuals who are pursuing their dreams. My business is called Little Leaf and it's my biggest dream come true. (You know, aside from my husband and children.) More about Ashley >>

Happy Birthday Gabe and Mike! It’s awesome that they have birthdays one day apart :) Makes for a fun weekend! I love all the things you enjoy about him and I love hearing my kindergarten parents tell me what they enjoy about their child (except when it’s like… they are so smart you are not challenging them enough lol).

So Daniel is a peer mentor in a special Ed class. It’s been his first week of school as a new four. I waited to send him til four on purpose, because I am sending him to school later than his birthday so he is oldest in class. If you can do twice a week for half a day, I think that’s great, and I will do that for Elsa next year. But that’s just my experience.

I always wanted to wait till 4 to start – but I need childcare when I work at home. And it’s free! Which is hard to beat. Just inconvenient 5 days a week for 2.5 hours. Lots of things to consider. Thanks for weighing in! :)

Just the other week, one of Gavin’s teachers corrected me when I called him a toddler. She said, “He’s not a toddler any more; he’s a little boy.” I was heartbroken when she said it. And yet, ever since that moment, I can’t tell you how many times a day I am stopped by something Gavin does or says (or doesn’t do/say) and know in my heart how right she was. This age is kind of stunning, because the milestones aren’t as obvious as they were from 0-24 months … but, all of a sudden you realize something big has been slowly happening and it’s now here.

Happy birthday to Gabe and Mike. What a fun weekend full of celebrations for your boys!

I blog about these things and our attempts to live a simpler, greener life in a small city in Massachusetts. More>>

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